In 1991 Chinese Communist leaders declared, "The new Cold War between China and America has begun.” China has been at war with us ever since. And when your enemy says you are at war, then you are at war, whether you want to be or not.

Politically, Washington should treat the PRC as a serious competitor. Depending on the issue, China may be adversary or friend. The U.S. should emphasize areas where the two nations’ interests coincide and look for compromises where interests diverge. Washington cannot dictate: negotiation over contested issues is inevitable.

Cruz's "Protecting Internet Freedom Act" would direct the Department of Commerce to retain ownership of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. The administration has sought to transfer the agency, which is responsible for administrative functions that transform code into language on the Internet, to an international authority called ICANN. Lawmakers worry that arrangement could empower countries like China and Iran to engage in more censorship, either at home or abroad.

If Republicans and free speech advocates allow the Obama plan to end the U.S. government relationship with ICANN to go forward it will remove American constitutional protections from what is arguably the last free place on Earth.